.. a school based councillor would...

[ElenorRigby]

Its my understanding the sessions are normally confidential with a child.....

but would they have to contact an appropriate agency (police/social services) if a child disclosed a potentially dangerous situation eg sexual abuse, domestic violence etc during a councilling session.

TIA

yes, I think so - at least report it to the CPO

Yes, anyone working with children is legally obliged to report any disclosure that indicates that the child is at risk.

sexual abuse yes,not so sre about domestic violence. violence direced at the child yes. but dont know about between parents

what clem said.

Anything that puts a child at risk must be reported. No adult working with a child in a school can assure a child of complete confidentiality and cannot promise to keep a secret. I am not sure what the position with medical staff is but my presumption is that the same rules.

Thank you for your quick response and help!

I think child protection rules would mean they are obliged to

Yes. I think most counsellors start the session with words along the lines of: 'This is confidential, but if you disclose anything that I think means you or another person is at risk of harm, I will need to break that confidentiality. Do you understand?'

I had to sign something with my school councillor to say that I accepted he had the right to pass on any information if I mentioned something he considered could be harmful to me or to anyone else.

When doing research with University students, we have to state pretty much exactly what ReasonableDoubt says. Our stated duty of care trumps the offer of confidentiality. I have a colleague who also makes sure that the University states that any information given in student feedback questionnaires is understood to be anonymous, unless we reasonably believe that they or another person is at risk of harm.

The undergraduate students all appear to understand and expect that, if you see what I mean - they always nod when we explain it.

I have counselled primary age children at work ( school) and always begin by explaining that what is said is private except if they tell me something that makes me believe that they, or someone else is in any sort of danger of getting hurt. I then explain that this could mean getting hurt like when they get an injury, or it could be getting hurt like being upset and crying about something.

Of course that means they could then choose not to disclose, but usually, once they have got as far as talking to me, they are ready to tell me whatever it is.

If I am told anything that is a problem, I am required to report it to the school's Child Protection Officer, in our case that is the headteacher. It is then his decision whether to pass it on to another ( outside) agency.

I am a school drugs and alcohol counsellor sexual abuse yes, DV no - not always.

If, as a teacher, a child told me about a DV situation, I would log a concern with our appointed person for CP, and they would decide what to do. Our counsellor also has this role in our school, and sometimes she deals directly with parents, sometimes with social services and/or the police. It depends. But the concern would always be logged.